Wasn't I tempting fate： how couldn't these hard-nosed Nazi detectives help but smell out the diaries beneath my broadcasts？

参考译文：我这不是在拿性命开玩笑吗？那些精明务实的的纳粹侦探怎么可能嗅不出广播稿下面的日记呢？

重点短语解析

(1)tempt fate 冒险，玩命,冒不必要的险

At the same time the State Department bureaucracy tended to tempt fate.  

同时,国务院的官僚机构有铤而走险的倾向.

The bike brakes don't work. If you ride downhill， you’ll be tempting fate.

这辆自行车的闸不灵了。你要是骑它走下坡，那你就是玩儿命。

(2)hard-nosed精明而讲究实际的，不感情用事的;坚韧的

If nothing else, Doug is a hard-nosed businessman.  

别的不说，道格起码是个精明务实的商人。

We all like John; he plays hard - nosed football.  

我们都喜欢约翰, 他踢起球来作风顽强勇猛.

My uncle was a hard - nosed army officer who had seen service in two wars.  

我叔叔是位严格而又倔强的军医,他曾身经两次大战.

(3)can't help but do sth.：不得不; 不能不; 必须; 只好;不可避免会做……；忍不住做……

When our country calls us for help, we can't help but go.  

当祖国需要我们时, 我们必须尽力.

When a close friend dies, we can't help but feel sad.  

当一位亲密的朋友去世时, 我们不能不难过.

A writer can't help but reveal himself.  

一个作家在作品中,总不免要显露出一些自身的影子.

I can't help but feel sorry for him.  

我只能为他感到难过.

He can't help but reject the offer if there are strings attached.　　 

如果有附带条件，他不可能不回绝。

We couldn't help but laugh when we heard his story.　　　 

听了他的故事，我们忍不住大笑起来。分页标题#e#

(4)smell sth./ sb. out：嗅出，嗅出; 发现;（口语）探出，

The dog smelt out drugs in the suitcase.　　　　　 

那狗闻出了箱子里的毒品。

He says he can smell out trouble before It'starts.  

他说他能在麻烦事儿发生之前就能察觉出来.

The dog will smell out a thief.  

狗会靠其嗅觉而找到贼.

Specially - trained dogs can smell out drugs.  

受过特殊训练的狗能嗅出毒品.

The legendary detective is said to be able to smell out murderers. 

据说那个传奇式的侦探能嗅出杀人犯。